Side seam soldering machines



March 5, 1968 F. s. SILLARS 3,371,839

SIDE SEAM SOLDERING MACHINES Filed July 21. 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 In vnfor By h is Afzorney Frederic/f S SzZZarS March 5, 1968 F. s. SILLARSSIDE SEAM SOLDERING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 21, 1964 NQ WMQw O 1. I ll r 1 1 1 F. S. SILLARS SIDE SEAM SOLDERING MACHINES March 5,1968 S Sheets-Sheet :5

Filed July 21, 1964 March 5, 1968 F. s. SILLARS 3,371,839

SIDE SEAM SOLDERING MACHINES Filed July 21, v 1964 Y 1 5 Sheets-Sheet 416 7 1 E 19 E v March 1968 F. s. SILLARS 3,371,839

SIDE SEAM SOLDERING MACHINES Filed July 21, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 UnitedStates Patent Ofiice 3,371,839 SIDE SEAM SOLDERING MACHINES Frederick S.Sillars, Beverly, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation,Boston, Mass., at corporation of New Jersey Continuation-impart ofapplication Ser. No. 348,932,

Mar. 3, 1964. This application July 21, 1964, Ser.

9 Claims. (Cl. 228-44) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A conveyor chain for.use in side seam soldering machines having a plurality of spaced presserlugs which cooperate with feed means for feeding, alining and produringpressure at the overlapping layers of a conventional interlockedcontainer body. The pressure lugs engage the outermost surface of theoverlapping portion of the side seam of container bodies at a pointspace-d from the circumferential terminus of the outer overlapping layerto ensure a close relationship between the overlapping layers of theside seam.

This invention relates to can making and, more specifically, to amodified side seam soldering machine of the type illustrated anddescribed in United States Letters Patent No. 3,056,368, issued Oct. 2,1962, in the name of the present inventor for soldering the seams ofpartially fabricated containers. This application is acontinuation-in-part of an application Ser. No. 348,932, filed Mar. 3,1964, in the name of the present inventor.

The bodies of cans commonly employed to package most foods are made froma rectangular sheet of tincoated steel which is formed into an openended cylinder by interlocking narrow marginal portions of oppositeparallel edges of the rectangle to produce a juncture called the sideseam. The interlocking side seam extends lengthwise of the cylindricalbody to a point inwardly of each of the open ends where the marginalportions of the edges are secured by a lap seam. In crosssection,measured radially of the can, the interlocked side seam includes fourlayers of metal. However, in cross section the lap joints, heerinafterreferred to as the laps, comprise two layers of metal in the form ofoverlapping tabs. The purpose of the laps is to facilitate theattachment of the top and bottom of the can body.

The top and the bottom or ends as they are frequently called, areattached by hanging outwardly an annular margin adjacent the open endsof the body and then curling the flanged margin into an interlockingformation with the adjacent edge portion of the top and bottom to formtherewith what is known as the double seam. If the interlocked side seamextended to the ends of the can, four folds of metal would have to beflanged and doubled over to be include-d in the double sea-m with thetop and bottom. However, by terminating the interlocking side seam shortof the ends and providing the thinner lap joints only two layers of bodymaterial need be flanged outwardly instead of four.

Can bodies of the type generally described above may be fabricated oneither a wing-type body-maker or a rollform body-maker. The lapsnormally produced on a wingtype body-maker have a gap between thelayers. The rollform body-maker ordinarily produces laps which are notgapped- The above-referenced United States patent is directed to amethod of and apparatus for soldering cans having overlapping layers ortabs which normally tend to gap, i.e. can bodies fabricated on wing-typebody-makers. The gap is located only in the portions of the juncturewhich 3,371,839 Patented Mar. 5, 1968 excessive deposits of solder, andto maintain the thickness of the lap area at a minimum. The gaps areclosed or the outer layer compressed in the apparatus of the referencedpatent by an endless chain having compressor lugs engageable with thetrailing overlapping outer layer of one can body simultaneously with theleading overlapping outer layer of the succeeding body thereby tocompress the laps. This operation is performed subsequent to theapplication of solder and during the solidification process.

The compressor lugs of the referenced patent also serve as a base orsupport for the can body during its traverse of the solidifying sectionof the apparatus. A can body is conveyed past the solidifyinginstrumentalities, such as a spray mist, by the cooperative action of anendless chain having feed dogs engageable with the trailing end of thecylindrical can bodies and the endless chain on which the compressorlugs are located. The relative position of the compressor chain is' suchthat a can located thereon is compressed between the compressor chainand the feed chain thereby to ensure continuity of can body location.Pivotal movement of the can body is effectively prevented as the canbody is mounted on the compressor lugs which bear against opposite endsof the can body along the side seam.

As illustrated in FIG. 4 of the referenced patent, the patentedcompressor lugs engage the outer layer of a lap along the entirecircumferential length of the overlapping portion. That is, thecompressor lug initially engages the end of the outer, gapped layer andurges this layer toward the inner layer. During the closure of the gap,the lug progressively engages a greater portion of the outer layer asthe outer layer is flexed into contact with the inner layer. Normally,when closure of the gap is completed, the lug is in engagement with theouter layer from a point directly below the end of the inner layer tothe terminus of the outer layer, see FIG. 4.

The compressor lugs described above are highly successful where thebody-maker produces can bodies having substantial continuity in gapsize. However, when can bodies having enlarged gaps were introduced tothe apparatus, the lugs often do not complete the closure. Furthermore,when the gaps are less than those normally encountered, the lugs closethe initial gap but commonly open a gap on the inside of the can body bydisplacement of the inner layer. A result of this deficiency isimproperly soldered cans which have to be discarded.

When can bodies manufactured on roll-form bodyrnakers i.e. can bodieswhich do not have a gap in the laps, are soldered on the apparatusdelineated in the referenced patent the compressor lugs cause the innerlayer of the lap to be displaced thereby producing an opening or gap onthe inside of the can body at the laps. That 15, the pressure exerted onthe closed laps by the compressor lugs is transmitted to the inner layerof the lap and urges the inner layer inwardly away from the outer layer.The technical explanation for this result is that the inner layer isdisplaced an amount sufficient to effect an equating force equal andopposite to that applied by the lugs in the compression of the can body.This explanation also applies to can bodies manufactured on wing-typebodymakers wherein the gap is less than normal. That is, when the smallinitial gap is closed, the same situation prevails as with can bodiesfabricated on roll-form body-makers.

When a can body is initially gapped within the normal tolerance forwing-type body-makers the forces are substantially equated in closure.

The removal of the compressor lugs from the compressor chain does notrovide a solution to the problem when the apparatus of the referencedpatent is employed to solder the side seam of can bodies fabricated onrollform body-makers. Removal of the compressor lugs would eliminate thegapping of thes inside layer but would result in another problem whichwould render the apparatus inoperative. As stated above, the lugs assistin maintaining the can body in alined position. The can body must becontacted at two or more displaced locations in order to ensurealinement integrity. If the can body were allowed to ride on the chainlinks, random movement would be possible. Stationary base members orsupport means are also not adequate as they would result in the markingor scraping of can bodies that were moved over them. The base or supportmember must move at the same rate of speed as the feed chain in order toprevent damage to the can bodies. Furthermore. removal of the compressorlugs would obviously prevent use of such a conveyor chain on gappedlaps.

The ultimate solution is the provision of a chain which can be utilizedon all can bodies having laps regardless of the presence or extent ofgapping.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide apparatus forsoldering an article having a side seam and laps.

It is a further and more specific object of this invention to provideapparatus for closing the overlapping portion of soldered articles andholding them closed after solder has been applied and while it issolidifying regardless of variations in the size of the initial gapbetween the overlapping layers.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide apparatus forapplying solder to an article having a side seam with closed laps andassociated means for conveying the article on said apparatus withoutaltering the character of the laps.

A correlative object of the two preceding objects is to provide aconveyor chain having presser means which can be employed with canbodies manufactured on both a wing-type body-maker or a roll-formbody-maker.

The present invention is directed to a modification of the machinedisclosed in the above referenced patent to facilitate the side seamsoldering of can bodies manufactured on either the wing-type body-makeror the rollform body-makers. The presser lugs of the subject disclosureensure closure of laps having a gap size within a substantiallyincreased tolerance range.

To these ends there is provided in a machine for soldering an articlehaving feed means for moving the article along a predetermined path oftravel, which means are illustrated hereinafter as an endless feed chainhaving feed dogs engageable with the trailing end of the articles andmeans for applying solder to the seams of the article, a featureembodied in support means cooperative with the feed means to feed thearticle, maintain alinement thereof, and to establish and/or maintainphysical contact between the overlapping layers of the laps, the supportmeans comprising an endless chain having a plurality of presser lugslinked therein comprising an upstanding member extending from one sidethereof engageable with the outermost surface of a can body at the outerlayer of a lap in substantial alinement with the end of the inner layerof the lap or with the outermost surface of the can body along a linecircumferentially disposed from the end of said inner layer in adirection away from the end of the outer layer of the lap.

There is also provided, in accordance with a further feature of thisinvention, in a machine of the type described in the preceding paragraphsupport means comprising an endless chain having a plurality of presserlugs linked therein comprising an upstanding member extending from oneside thereof engageable with the outermost surface of a can body at theouter layer of a lap in substantial alinement with the end of the innerlayer of the lap or with the outermost surface of the can body along aline circumferentially disposed from the end of said inner layer in adirection away from the end of the outer layer of the lap, andstabilizing members mounted on said chain each :member being engageablewith the can body at a point circumferentially disposed from the sideseam on the side opposite that engaged by said presser lugs.

The above and other features of the invention including various noveldetails of construction and combinations of parts will now be moreparticularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings andpointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the machineembodying the invention is shown by way of illustration and not as alimitation of the invention. The principles and features of thisinvention may be utilized in varied and numerous embodiments andapplications without departing from the scope of the invention.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, with portions partially broken away, of amachine embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of a portion of themachine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detail view in side elevation on enlarged scale and withportions partially broken away of a portion of the machine shown in FIG.1 including the feed means;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line IVIV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view partly broken away of a can body showingthe interlocking and overlapping portions of the side seam;

FIG. 6 is an end view of a portion of a can body of the typemanufactured on roll-form body-makers;

FIG. 7 is an end view of a portion of a can body of the typemanufactured on wing-type body-makers illustrating an abnormally largelap gap;

FIG. 8 is an end view similar to FIG. 6 showing the compressor lug ofthe above-referenced patent in contact with the overlapped portion;

FIG. 9 is an end view similar to FIG. 7 showing the compressor lug ofthe above-referenced patent in contact with the overlapped portion;

FIG. 10 is an end view similar to FIG. 6 showing the presser lug of thepresent invention in engagement with the outer layer of the lap;

FIG. 11 is an end view similar to FIG. 7 showing the presser lug of thepresent invention in engagement with the outer layer of the lap;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the inner and outer layers of a lapshowing the effect of the presser lug of the present invention thereon,the flexing of the layers being slightly exaggerated for purposes ofillustration;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 showing engagement of the presserlug at another point in the engagement locus;

FIG. 14 is a detail view in side elevation on an enlarged scale and withportions partially broken away of a portion of a machine illustratingthe preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along the line XIVXIV of FIG. 14.

The body portion B of a can having laps is best seen in FIG. 5 andincludes a cylindrical wall 2 with an interlocking side seam 4comprising the usual inside hook 6, outside hook 8 and end lockprojection 10 located beneath the end lock step 12. Between the sideseam and the ends of the can (only one of which can be seen in FIG. 5)are located the outside and inside layers 14 and 16 of the laps,respectively. The inside layer 16 is a tab-like projection formed fromthe same edge of the original body material as the inside hook 6. Theoutside hook 8 is formed intermediate the ends of a can between theoutside layers 14 located on opposite ends of the can and along the edgecommon thereto. The inside hook 6 and outside hook 8 are interlocked andbumped into close relationship to form the side seam 4. The outside andinside layers 14 and 16 of the laps, respectively, may be either closedor gap-ped depending upon what type body-maker is employed, as discussedabove.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, can bodies introduced to the machine areconveyed from left to right in a timed and spaced order by an endlessconveyor chain 26 having feed dogs 28 located at intervals thereon, eachdog being engageable with the trailing end of one can body. The bodiesare conveyed past a soldering station S preferably of the typeillustrated and described in United States Letters Patent No. 3,000,338,issued Sept. 19, 1961, in the name of the present inventor. Thesoldering station, per se, forms no part of the present invention.

After solder has been applied at the soldering station S the can bodiesmust be removed from the station and sup-ported for movement through asolidifying stage to a removal station R. When a gap exists in the lapsof a can body, the gap must be closed. However, means must also beprovided which will prevent the creation of gaps.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the conveyor chain 26 and a supportchain 29 cooperate to remove can bodies B from the solder station and toconvey the can bodies to the removal station R. The can bodies remain inposition between the conveyor chain 26 and the support chain 29 for apredetermined period sufficient to allow uniform solder solidification.Controlled artificial means such as a water spray may be provided toeffectuate a desired rate of solidification. Although it is consideredpreferable to provide such artificial solidification means, provisionthereof, per se, forms no part of this invention.

The conveyor chain 26 passes around a sprocket wheel 30 (FIG. 2) whichis driven in a counterclockwise direction. The upper portion of thechain is supported in a guide 32 which is mounted on a machien framemember 34 while the lower portion is supported by a guide 36 whichdepends from the frame member. Referring to FIG. 4, it will be seen thatthe conveyor chain is supported in the guide 36 by studs 3-8 whichproject from the chain links and slide in guideways 40. It will be notedthat the guideway openings, measured vertically, are larger than thediameter of the studs 38. The chain 26 will normally rest by its ownweight on a can body but will yield upwardly a slight amount by pressureapplied by the can as will become apparent from the description whichfollows.

The support chain 29 is an endless chain having a plurality of presserlugs 42 linked therein. The presser lugs 42 comprise chain links 44having an upstanding member 46 extending from one side thereof, asviewed in FIGS. 4, l and 11. The upstanding member 46 on each lug 42 isengageable with the outermost surface S of a can body introducedthereto. The functional locus of engagement of a member 46 with theoutermost surface S of a can body extends from a point alined with theend or circumferential terminus E of the inner lap layer 16 (see FIG.12) along the outermost surface 5,, of the can body in a direction awayfrom the end or circumferential terminus E of the outer lap layer (seeFIG. 13). In the preferred embodiment, the line defined by the points ofcontact or engagement between the members 46 and the outermost surface Sof successive can bodies is in alinement with the terminus or ends E ofthe inner layers 16 and spaced from the terminus or ends E of the outerlayers 14. However, engagement at any point along the above definedlocus establishes the desired results to be described hereinafter. Thelength of the engagement locus is limited by the ability of the member46 to function as a support. That is, as stated above, the conveyorchain 26 and the support chain 29 cooperate to convey the can bodies.The members 46 act as the support means associated with the conveyorchain 29. Accordingly, the members 46 must be in substantial diametricaliuement with the chain 26. If the member 46 engages the outermostsurface S too far from such a diameter, the can body will not beretained in location. The exact line of engagement of the members 46with successive can bodies is determined :by the location of the member46 on the presser l'ug 42 and the mounting of the chain 29. A desiredline of engagement can be obtained by control of these variables.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 13 and14. The support chain 29 is provided with stabilizing members 48 mountedon the chain 29 intermediate the presser lugs 42. The stabilizingmembers 48 comprise chain links having upstanding members 49 extendingfrom one side thereof. The upstanding members 49 are engageable with canbodies introduced thereto along a line circumferentially disposed fromthe side seam.

on the opposite side thereof from the line of engagement of the presserlugs 42. The stabilizing members 48 act as can body supports incooperation with the presser lugs 42 by applying a counterbalancingsupport force to ensure the stability of a can body introduced to themachine regardless of where on the engagement locus the members 46engage.

The center-to-center spacing of the presser lugs 42 is the same as thecenter-to-center spacing of the feed dogs 28 on the conveyor chain 26.The length of the presser lugs 42 and members 46 is such that themembers 46 are engageable with the trailing outermost surface S of onecan body simultaneously with the leading outermost sur face S of thesucceeding can body. As viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4, the members 46 will beseen to extend upwardly from the links 44 a distance sufficient tosupport a can body after it no longer is supported by the spaced guidemembers 50 which constitute the egress support means associated with thesolder applicator. The member 46 of a given link 42 initially contactsthe trailing and leading ends of successive can bodies at a pointintermediate the ends of the guide members 50, 59, as best shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. Upon egress from the guide members 50, 50, a can body isfixedly supported on the upstanding members 46 of two presser lugs 42which cooperate with the conveyor chain 29 to progress the can bodiesthrough the solidification stage to the removal station R comprisingguide members 51. In the preferred embodiment discussed above, a canbody would also be supported by the stabilizing members 43.

The universality and effectiveness of the structure delineated above canbe best described by a discussion of the effect thereof on the varioustype laps. Furthermore, a comparison of the results derived therefromwith those of the apparatus of the previously referenced patent indicatethe marked improvement represented thereby. FIGS. 6 and 7 represent lapsfabricated on roll-form body-makers and wing-type body-makers,respectively. The lap shown in FIG. 7 is intended to depict a gap largerthan that normally produced on wing-type body-makers in order toillustrate one of the deficiencies the subject invention remedies. It isto be noted, however, that enlarged gaps of comparable magnitude areoften produced on wingtype body-makers as a result of fabricationinconsistencies.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the effect the compressor lug of the abovereferenced patent has on the laps illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. When thecompressor lug of the referenced patent contacts the ungapped lap itproduces a gap on the inside of the can body, see FIG. 8. Theexplanation for this result is as described above. When the referencescompressor lug contacts the lap having the enlarged gap it fails toclose the gap completely, see

, FIG. 9. Furthermore, as discussed above, when a lap fabricated on awing-type body-maker has a gap below the normal tolerance the compressorlug of the referenced patent produces a gap on the inside. This specificdefect is not illustrated but would be somewhat analogous to the gapindicated in FIG. 8. Likewise, if a small gap were produced in a lap ona can body fabricated on a rollform body-maker, the result would be thesame, Le. a gap on the inside of lesser magnitude than that shown inFIG. 8. Thus, it is readily apparent that the compressor lug taught bythe prior art is limited to use with can bodies having a lap which isgapped within a relatively small tolerance. It is completely inefiectualon ungapped can bodies and produces unmerchantable can bodies where agap without the prescribed tolerance exists.

The ability of the presser lug of the present invention to establishand/or maintain physical contact between overlapping layers of a lap isillustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. The upstanding member 46 is shown toengage the outermost surface S of a can body in alinernent with the endE, of the inner lap layer 16. The outer lap layer 14 is urged upwardlyinto intimate engagement with the end of the inner layer. The remainderof the overlapped portion of the outer layer 14 is also urged upwardlybut flexes as a result of the nature and thickness thereof and contactwith the inner layer. That is, the amount of upward movement decreasesprogressively in the direction of the end of the outer layer, The end ofthe inner layer is essentially analogus to the end of a long, thin,flexible beam and reacts in acordance with what is commonly referred toas the bending beam theory. Upon the application of pressure to the endof the inner layer 16 by the member 46 through the outer layer 14, theinner layer is flexed or bowed and intimate contact is establishedbetween the inner and outer layers along the entire length of theoverlap. FIG. 12 illustrates the effect of the member 46 on the lapsdescribed above, the view being enlarged and slightly exaggerated inorder to show clearly the interaction between the members.

The interaction between the member 46 and the outer and inner layers ofa lap results in the closure of gapped laps on can bodies fabricated onwing-type body-makers regardless of deviations from the normal gaptolerance. Furthermore, the contact between the layers of a lap formedon a roll-form body-maker is not vitiated as the initial application ofpressure is transmitted to the end of the inner layer. That is, contactbetween the outer layer and the end of the inner layer is ensured by theinitial pressure application and the remaining portions of the layersare fixed into engagement. Thus, it can be seen that means have beenprovided which can be utilized to establish and/or maintain physicalcontact between the layers of a lap regardless of the type body-makeremployed. The problem of fabrication inconsistencies of body-makers hasbeen solved. Ergo, a universal means for removing can bodies from thesoldering station is provided which will close an existing gap ormaintain contact between the layers of a closed lap.

The support chain 29 is supported by and moves in a guideway 56 (FIGS.1, 2 and 3) and passes around sprocket wheels 58, 60. The wheel 58 isconnected by an appropriate drive chain 62 to a gear reducer 64 which isconnected by means not shown, to the sprocket 30 which rotates theconveyor chain 26, Tension in the chain 29 is controlled in aconventional manner by varying the position of a bracket 66 which mountsthe wheel 58. The bracket 66 is adjustable by rotating a screw 68'threaded in a main supporting frame member 69 for the support chain 29.

In operation, the can bodies B are conveyed by the feed dogs 28 on theconveyor chain 27 in spaced end-to-end relationship with their seams inalignment at the bottom of the bodies. The length of the dogs, measuredlengthwise of the chain 26, determines the space between the trailingedges of one can body and the leading edge of the next. After passingfrom the soldering means the can bodies move onto the guide members 50and are squeezed vertically assuming elliptical shape under the pressureapplied by the chain 26. While being supported on the guide members 50,the trailing end of one can body and the leading end of the nextadjacent body are simultaneously engaged at or adjacent the leading andtrailing laps 61 and 62, respectively, by a member 46 on the supportchain 29. As stated above, the can bodies are engaged on the outermostsurface S in alinernent with the end B, of the inner layer or at a pointdisposed circumferentially therefrom in a direction away from the end Eof the outer layer. The line defined by the points of engagement for agiven presser lug construction is controlled by the positioning of theconveyor chain. Since the chains 26 and 28 are moving at the same linearspeed, since the presser lugs 42 and dogs 28 are arranged on theserespective chains to be in vertical alinement when the chains areparallel, and since the center-to-center spacing of adjacent presserlugs 42 is the same as that of the feed dogs, the desired relationshipwill be obtained as shown in FIG. 3.

The pressure produced at the outer layer 14 of the lap by the presserlug 42 causes the lap components 14 and 16 to be pressed into thedesired close relationship with a thin layer of solder between them. Ifa gap existed between the layers of the lap when the can body wasintroduced to the machine, the gap is closed when the member 46 contactsthe outermost surface S of the cam body. Where no gap existed when thecan body was introduced to the machine, the close relationship ismaintained by the pressure applied by the member 46. Can bodiesmanufactured on either the wing-type or roll-form bodymakers can besoldered on the apparatus with the same conveyor chain.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for soldering a tubular article having a seam includingan interlocking portion and an overlapping portion comprising inner andouter overlapping layers, said machine comprising feed means for movingthe article along a predetermined path of travel and means for applyingsolder to the seam, the combination of means cooperative with the feedmeans for feeding, aligning and producing pressure at the overlappinglayers of the article to ensure a close relationship therebtween, saidcooperative means comprising drive means having a plurality of presserlugs each engageable with the outermost surface of an article at a pointspaced from the circumferential terminus of said outer overlappinglayer.

2. In a machine for soldering a tubular article having a seam includingan interlocking portion and an overlaping portion comprising inner andouter overlapping layers, said machine comprising feed means for movingthe article along a predetermined path of travel and means for applyingsolder to the seam, the combination of movable means cooperative withthe feed means for producing pressure at the overlapping layers of thearticle during movement to ensure a close relationship therebetween,said movable means comprising a plurality of presser lugs each having anupstanding member engageable with the outermost surface of an article ata point substantially alined with the end of the inner overlapping layerand spaced from the circumferential terminus of said outer overlappinglayer.

3. In a machine for soldering a tubular article having a seam includingan interlocking portion and an overlapping portion comprising inner andouter overlapping layers, said machine comprising feed means for movingthe article along a predetermined path of travel and means for applyingsolder to the seam, the combination of means movable with the articlefor producing pressure at the overlapping layers of the article duringmovement to ensure a close relationship therebetween while the soldersolidifies, said movable means comprising a plurality of presser lugseach having an extension member extending from one side thereof towardthe article and engageable with the outermost surface of an article onlyat a point spaced from the circumferential terminus of said outeroverlapping layer.

4. In a machine for soldering the side seams of can bodies having a sideseam including an interlocking portion and at each end thereofoverlapping portions comprising inner and outer overlapping layers, saidmachine comprising feed means for moving the bodies along apredetermined path of travel in spaced relationship, with their seams insubstantial alinement, and means for applying solder to the seam, thecombination of means cooperative with the feed means for feeding,alining and producing pressure at the trailing overlapping layers of onecan body and the leading overlapping layers of the succeeding bodyduring movement thereof to ensure a close relationship therebetween,said cooperative means comprising a plurality of presser members eachengageable with the outermost surfaces of said successive can bodiesalong a line of engagement defined by points substantially alined withthe circumferential ends of the inner overlapping layers and spaced fromthe termini of the outer overlapping layers.

5. In a machine for soldering the side seams of can bodies having a sideseam including an interlocking portion and at each end thereofoverlapping portions comprising inner and outer overlapping layers, saidmachine comprising feed means for moving the bodies along apredetermined path of travel in spaced relationship, with their seams insubstantial alinement, and means for applying solder to the seam, thecombination of means movable with the can bodies for producing pressureat the trailing overlapping layers of one can body and the leadingoverlapping layers of the adjacent body during movement thereof toensure a close relationship therebetween while the solder solidifies,said movable means comprising a plurality of presser lugs each having anextension member engageable with the outermost surfaces of adjacent canbodies at points spaced from the circumferential termini of the outeroverlapping layers.

6. In a machine for soldering a tubular article having a seam includingan interlocking portion and an overlapping portion comprising inner andouter overlapping layers, said machine comprising feed means for movingthe article along a predetermined path of travel and means for applyingsolder to the seam, the combination of means cooperative with the feedmeans for feeding, alining and producing pressure at the overlappinglayers of the article to ensure a close relationship therebetween, saidcooperative means comprising drive means having a plurality of presserlugs each engageable with the outermost surface of an article at a pointspaced from the circumferential terminus of said outer overlapping layerand stabilizing members engageable with an article on the opposite sideof the seam from the presser lugs.

7. In a machine for soldering a'tubular article having a seam includingan interlocking portion and an overlapping portion comprising inner andouter overlapping layers, said machine comprising feed means for movingthe article along a predetermined path of travel and means for applyingsolder to the seam, the combination of movable means cooperative withthe feed means for producing pressure at the overlapping layers of thearticle during movement to ensure a close relationship therebetween,said movable means comprising a plurality of presser lugs each having anupstanding member engageable with the outermost surface of an article ata point substantially alined with the end of the inner overlapping layerand spaced from the circumferential terminus of said outer overlappinglayer and stabilizing members mounted on said movable means intermediatesaid presser lugs and engageable with an article at a pointcircumferentially disposed from the seam and on the opposite sidethereof from the presser lugs.

8. In a machine for soldering the side seams of can bodies having a sideseam including an interlocking portion and at each end thereofoverlapping portions comprising inner and outer overlapping layers, saidmachine comprising feed means for moving the bodies along apredetermined path of travel in spaced relationship, with their seams insubstantial alinement, and means for applying solder to the seam, thecombination of means cooperative with the feed means for feeding,alining and producing pressure at the trailing overlapping layers of onecan body and the leading overlapping layers of the succeeding bodyduring movement thereof to ensure a close relationship therebetween,said cooperative means comprising a plurality of pressure members eachengageable with the outermost surfaces of said successive can bodiesalong a line of engagement defined by points substantially alined Withthe circumferential ends of the inner overlapping layers and spaced fromthe termini of the outer overlapping layers and stabilizing members eachengageable with a can body along a line circumferentially disposed fromthe side seam on the opposite side thereof from the line of engagementof said presser lugs.

9. In a machine for soldering the side seams of can bodies having a sideseam including an interlocking portion and at each end thereofoverlapping portions comprising inner and outer overlapping layers, saidmachine comprising feed means for moving the bodies along apredetermined path of travel in spaced relationship, with their seams insubstantial alinement, and means for applying solder to the seam, thecombination of means movable with the can bodies for producing pressureat the trailing overlapping layers of one can body and] the leadingoverlapping layers of the adjacent body during movement thereof toensure a close relationship therebetween while the solder solidifies,said movable means comprising a plurality of presser lugs each having anextension member engageable with the outermost surfaces of adjacent canbodies at points spaced from the circumferential termini of the outeroverlapping layers, and stabilizing members each engageable with a canbody on the opposite side of the side seam from said presser lugs.

No references cited.

RIC-HARD H. EANES, I 11., Primary Examiner.

